In the ensuing weeks after llhaesa’s unique and astonishing proposal, each of those slated to stay behind when Equality left prepared for the planetside migration.

The team accomplished much in this time. Llhaesa and M’traliel generated significant earnings sufficient to see to housing for the entirety of the team, as well as see to other needs necessary for the extended resettlement. A special team from Equality retrofitted each home with special security systems to protect sensitive equipment.

As expected, llhaesa and Jahrae would live in the property adjacent to Ronnie, while Jesnsera and Chsensera would live in the camp property on Lake Sorensen. M’traliel and Khahishra purchased an inn in northern New Hampshire, creating the first inter-world chain of inns, their chain now numbering a rather modest two.

Elsrensia would live with Ronnie, while Saehressa and Hrilleae accepted Anita’s invitation to live with her.

Each member of the team, including Ronnie, trained and certified to fly the landing craft, as well as the smaller auxiliary craft each carried. Llhaesa particularly loved piloting the craft, though she was rather adventurous in open spaces, although morning sickness might threaten llhaesa’s love of flying antics; the day before, one quick scan by Elsrensia gave the answer, and she signalled conformation: llhaesa was pregnant.

With the confirmation, the parents three readied to share their news with the remainder of family and the team. Gathering in llhaesa and Jahrae’s suite, all could feel a sense of imminent exciting news, but no one suspected what followed, excepting Elsrensia, who performed the procedure, Saehressa, who already knew of their plans, and the girls, who learned earlier in the day.

Jahrae called for everyone’s attention, standing in room’s centre. “We have some news to share. I am certain all of you are up to date on our move from the ship, which will be in fifteen days. Mum, you will be missed, but please give daddy a hug from all of us – and bring him back when you return in fifteen months!

Make sure all of you think through what you wish to have with you, because once Equality leaves, you do without whatever it was you wished to have.

Physicals, by the way, are mandatory prior to the move, or so Elsrensia said I must say, or she would not provide the information we looked for. Since this was important, I conceded to volunteer all of you to her probing and scanning.

In return, we received the desired information, right, Ronnie?” Jahrae asked, looking teasingly at Ronnie, ready to toss her the verbal ball in a word game of keep-the-subject-away.

“We did, Jahrae, and we celebrated, we three! OK, so we had champagne, and llhaesa had seltzer water, but there was commonality in our mutual fizzing! Llhaesa, you do like to be different!”

M’traliel stopped the obvious hand off to llhaesa, short-circuiting their game, but only for the moment. Llhaesa was already out of her seat and moving to stand next to Jahrae.

“OK, we get something involving you three is happening,” M’traliel interjected, “so are you going to spill it, or am I going to walk out of here, never wishing to hear of it again?” M’traliel retaliated with teasing of her own.

“Leave if you wish, M’traliel, but the answer will be apparent as we practise, record, and play; you cannot will away knowing of this.”

M’traliel rose from her chair and walked up to llhaesa. Are you going to reveal this secret, or am I going to have to wrestle you for the truth?”

“You would have no chance, M’tra, no chance.”

“Why, because you are a sixth of a metre taller than me, you believe me an easy mark?”

“M’traliel, are you certain you wish me to answer this?” llhaesa asked, rolling her eyes, while making a knowing face for the benefit of the others there.

“Hey, that is my wife you call an easy mark, llhaesa!” Khahishra, sharing the sofa with Elsrensia and the temporarily vacated M’traliel, called out.

“You disagree with me, Khahishra?” llhaesa asked, feigning seriousness.

“No, I just wished to say that is my wife you call an easy mark! That is all!” Khahishra finished, leaving everyone in the room in laughter.

“In this case, Khahishra, the easy mark is me.” Llhaesa tossed out, the comment initially lost in the residual laughter amongst those gathered.

“You, llhaesa, are an easy mark?” Chsensera asked the one person in life that came close to being her idol.

“I am truly glad you asked that question, Chsen, for in this case, the answer is yes.”

Chsensera looked at llhaesa with obvious confusion, saying nothing, and waiting for llhaesa to clarify her words. She was not disappointed.

“Chsen, everyone, I am pregnant.”

A collective but excited gasp of surprise filled the room from the six who had not yet heard the news. The gasp quickly faded into exclaimed congratulations, with llhaesa and Jahrae graciously accepting their well wishes. Llhaesa motioned to everyone to settle, that she had more to share.

“Everyone, thank you, but our future child has three parents, not two. As with Addison and Serada, Jahrae, Ronnie, and me are the parents. In this particular pregnancy, in vitro fertilisation was of Jahrae’s egg via Ronnie’s blood, and Elsrensia implanted the fertilised egg in me. Elsrensia confirmed the pregnancy yesterday.”

This clarification brought another round of congratulations, this time for Ronnie. Ronnie moved to stand in the middle of the room with llhaesa and Jahrae, as everyone else sprang to their feet and engaged in little pockets of supportive conversation.

Hours later, Ronnie, llhaesa, and Jahrae sat in the lounge, where they walked for a quick nightcap, requesting margaritas from the bar, now stocked with Arrkarharan tequila, and which proved a big hit with the crew. They settled at the first empty table from the bar, not bothering to search out something more aesthetically appealing.

“That went well!” Ronnie offered in observation on the news sharing. “I am not at all certain of the reception we receive once we are planetside. In fact, llhaesa, I rather sense your feminist roots are in the mix here.”

“Llhaesa has feminist roots? Surely you are mistaken, Ronnie!” Jahrae faux-challenged Ronnie.

“I might find a topic or two to relate to the pregnancy,” llhaesa mused.

“Might, ‘essa?” Jahrae asked, knowing llhaesa had thought this out long before. “That is like saying Arrhazon may have two moons.”

“OK, I have a topic or two to relate. Is that better?”

“Yes, and you can apparently start when we revisit Jamila tomorrow – that is if you plan to reveal the details of your pregnancy.”

“I will not say anything unless we are in agreement, and I have yet to hear objection from either of you. Are you with me on this?”

“Of course, we are with you, silly!” Ronnie clearly stated her support. “I am really looking forward to the prospect of you preggers. I still have memories of my two pregnancies with Tim, dear! If only I knew then what I know now!”

“At least I have the advantage of hindsight that you did not,” llhaesa replied.

“And I get to watch llhaesa for when my turn rolls around, which might not be that far into the future,” Jahrae, in a contemplative mood, offered.

Finishing their drinks, the three left a tip – the tab was on llhaesa’s account with ongoing deduction automatically authorised – and headed for ‘home,’ in reality their suites two decks below their current location.

“What time do you intend to leave in the morning?” Ronnie asked.

“Please do not ask llhaesa this question, unless you wish to be headed downward before six am!” Jahrae warned.

“That would be rather silly, given the programme is at 2 pm,” llhaesa reminded. “Although I do wish to stop in Henna and check on the houses, just to make certain everything nears readiness.

On another matter, Jahrae, you intend to invite Jamila on board ship, is that correct?” Jahrae nodded her answer, and llhaesa continued. “We also need to go to Tampa to get Dottie, Vicki, David, and the boys. I guess tomorrow is shaping up as a busy day.

Perhaps our first stop is Tampa, and then we can bring them with us to meet Jamila, and after the show, bring everyone up to visit for a few days.”

The three stepped off the lift and onto their floor walking toward their suites. Stopping outside Ronnie’s door, the discussion continued, with Jahrae mentioning work logistics.

“Essa, I also have to get communications equipment to the White House, but I guess that can be done next week.”

“Are you certain of this, J-har? We could rearrange the schedule to accommodate this need.”

“No need, my love. Next week is fine.”

“One more time,” Ronnie asked. “What time do we leave in the morning?”

“I should think 8 am is sufficient, Ronnie.” Llhaesa replied, setting a firm time. “I will take us down, and Jahrae will take us back up here. Have a fun ride tomorrow, Ronnie!” llhaesa teased, knowing Jahrae was as enamoured with flying the craft as llhaesa was.